The excitement building in Virginia around the first-ever spring meet at Colonial Downs will come to a head March 15 as the $500,000 Virginia Derby makes its debut on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The one-turn, 1 1/8-mile contest will serve as a fitting anchor to the three-day weekend as a contentious field of 10 sophomores will compete for Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10-5 scale.
KING: Colonial Downs Readies for Three Days of March Racing
Some of the sport's biggest names are supporting the new venture in the entry box, including CHC and WinStar Farm, who have entered two Brad Cox trainees in John Hancock and Rapture.
After his six-furlong maiden triumph, John Hancock solidified his place among the best of the 3-year-old crop with a gutsy victory in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs. The pacesetter throughout, the Constitution colt battled off the challenge of next-out Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty to ace his first two-turn contest with jockey Flavien Prat aboard.
Video: Sam F. Davis S. (BT)
However, it will be Hall of Famer Mike Smith who will pilot the WinStar homebred Saturday as Prat's saddle will be aboard Rapture. The son of Uncle Mo teamed with Prat to score an eye-catching Oaklawn Park maiden victory at second asking Jan. 25 after prompting the pace.
The duo enter as the second and third choice on the morning line with John Hancock at 3-1 and Rapture at 5-1. The first nod of favoritism goes to cross-country shipper Getaway Car for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
The Curlin colt raced in deep water throughout his 2-year-old season while competing against Citizen Bull, Gaming, and Journalism. Class relief proved the perfect starting point to a 3-year-old campaign as he ended a four-race losing streak with a hard-fought nose victory in the Feb. 16 Sunland Park Derby.
The grade 3 winner's first trip to the east coast sees him acquiring the riding services of Irad Ortiz Jr.
On Your Left Racing's Omaha Omaha should benefit if two—or all three—of the favorites get caught in quick early fractions. The deep-closing son of Audible , trained by Michael Gorham, overcame a slow half-mile in :49 during the Feb. 1 Withers Stakes to reach third, his second placing in as many starts on the Derby trail.
His closing quick could be further aided depending on the tactics of BC Stable's American Promise and Greenwell Thoroughbreds' Authentic Gallop, who have both shown some early pace in the maiden or allowance levels.
Three Diamonds Farm's Calling Card and Baccari Racing Stable, Dream Walkin Farms, MJM Racing, and Rocket Ship Racing's Render Judgement could also benefit from a hot pace as they have typically settled in the back half of the field in prior starts.
Mens Grille Racing's two-time stakes winner Studlydoright and West Paces Racing, Pavilion Racing, Brown Road Racing, Twin Sports Racing, and Cypresshead Racing's Georgia Magic round out the field.
Colonial Downs, Saturday, March 15, 2025, Race 9Entries: Virginia Derby (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 Calling Card (NY) Luan Machado 123 Michael J. Maker - 2 John Hancock (KY) Mike E. Smith 123 Brad H. Cox - 3 American Promise (KY) Nik Juarez 123 D. Wayne Lukas - 4 Omaha Omaha (VA) Raul E. Mena 123 Michael E. Gorham - 5 Studlydoright (MD) Xavier Perez 123 John J. Robb - 6 Getaway Car (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 123 Bob Baffert - 7 Rapture (KY) Flavien Prat 123 Brad H. Cox - 8 Authentic Gallop (KY) Javier Castellano 123 Thomas M. Amoss - 9 Render Judgment (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 123 Kenneth G. McPeek - 10 Georgia Magic (KY) Sheldon Russell 123 Raymond Handal -
